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The Tiger Winter 2018 Flipbook PDF
Saint Xavier High School Alumni Magazine - Winter 2018
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Chris Morris ’76 St. X’s Reserve, Page 8
Meet St. X’s oldest black alumnus
Charlie Holt ’59 Page 3
volume 50, no. 2, winter 2018 saintx.com
alumni features volume 50, no. 2, winter 2018 saintx.com
The Path to Wall Street Benny Butler, Jr. ’00 represents all that is great about St. X, and he is quick to credit his parents, along with St. X faculty, staff, and coaches for all the success he is experiencing today. Benny grew up in Shively and attended St. Denis where he played football and basketball. His parents chose St. X for him believing it was the best school in the city for blending academic excellence with his passion for athletics. They also focused on teaching him the importance of education, believing in himself, and having grit to overcome any obstacle. While at St. X, Benny excelled in academics and athletics. He used his time in the classroom to prepare himself for college and get the most out of his high school education. Benny was placed in the Honors track his freshman year and took mostly Advanced Placement courses as an upperclassman. Couple that with his community service and work with Habitat for Humanity, and he was a natural choice for the National Honor Society. Outside the classroom, Benny continued to play football and basketball, and added track and field to the mix. “My coaches were very instrumental in helping me carry that discipline from the classroom over to my particular sport. It was a large factor in my success.” Through his focus on his studies and his achievements on the football field, Benny earned the opportunity to play football at Harvard University. When asked how St. X prepared him to succeed at an Ivy League university, Benny answered, “College was actually easier on me than high school. Not that the material or content was easier, but because of the structure and discipline engrained in me at St. X, I was able to excel at time management and prioritization. I was able to complete all my work and manage my practice and game schedule thanks to the discipline and study habits instilled in me.” Benny had a passion for business and working on Wall Street, but former Harvard teammates and mentors guided him to Psychology. This degree helped him build on his interest in understanding human connections and decision making. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Harvard, Benny continued his studies by completing a three-year program as a Chartered Financial Analyst. He was recruited out of Harvard to Wells Fargo (formerly Wachovia) in Charlotte, N.C. Currently, Benny is an investment-grade corporate bond-trader. He helps institutional investors buy and sell blocks of corporate bonds and is responsible for managing roughly $1 billion in capital. Because of his success, he has already been promoted to Managing Director at the age of 35! Benny says he loves the fast-paced, competitive environment. While work takes most of his time, Benny enjoys exercising daily; reading; and spending time with his fiancé, Karla, and their English bulldog, Chucho. Benny has stayed connected with St. X through collaboration with the administration on diversity initiatives and harnessing the minority alumni network. He also hopes to one day sit on the Board of Directors. When asked about advice for current students, Benny says, “Cherish the moment and take full advantage of all that St. X offers! Build great relationships and use all the resources to your advantage. Looking back, you will realize just how amazing St. X really is!” Written by Paul Burke ’95 2
Farming is a dream come true Justin Jeffries ’06 fell in love with St. X in the 1990s as part of a Friday night tradition with his grandfather, watching the Tigers play football. Game after game, he learned if you wanted to play serious football, St. X was one place to go. A gifted athlete while at public school in Fern Creek, he set his sights on playing for the Tigers and worked his way up to do just that. “I came to St. X as a boy, but came out as a man.” He credits Coach Mike Glaser ’70 for molding him into the player and the man he is today. He remembers Coach pulling him aside as a freshman and telling him, “Pick up your knees when you run.” It sounds funny today, but he started with the basics and built from there. Justin was a star offensive lineman, but noted that he always wanted to play defense, to tackle somebody. Coach Glaser wisely told him, “Offensive line play gets you to college.” And right he was as Justin went on to play offensive line for the University of Kentucky. He’s never forgotten his high school coach; one of his proudest moments was when Coach Glaser came to his wedding to celebrate as part of the family. Justin’s high school experience gave him a strong foundation for college football and for life. “St. X taught me discipline and made me mentally tough. We were held accountable and that served me well both as I played SEC football and as I worked my
alumni features volume 50, no. 2, winter 2018 saintx.com
way through classes at UK. But all the lessons came in the context of family, a true band of brothers leaving me with many memories I’ll cherish forever.” Justin leveraged his athletic talent into a college degree in Agriculture – Community Leadership and Development. And while many folks bank a degree and end up working in a different field, that’s not the case for him. He has worked in agriculture for a number of different grain operations over the years, primarily growing corn and soybeans. Most recently, he accepted a position as an Ag Equipment Sales Agent for Whayne Supply selling to retailers and applicators in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. He loves helping people work the land – it’s his passion and vocation. In fact, it’s also his dream. “My dream is to build a farming operation, growing row crops like corn and soybeans on a large scale.” In fact, he’s looking for land to cultivate in Jefferson or surrounding counties. “Land is expensive, so you need to start small and grow.” Justin would love to connect with any Tiger alumni with farming land or access to farming land in and around Louisville. He noted, “I’m a good team player – let’s work together.” When asked what he would like to say to the fellow Tiger graduates, Justin simply said, “Thanks!” Adding to that, he shares, “Thanks for building the tradition that is St. X. Thanks to the teachers and coaches for helping me grow into the man I am today. Thanks to my classmates for being there and making it special.” St. X promotes being the place to start – the place to build a foundation for life. Justin Jeffries agrees wholeheartedly. He’s living his dream every day. Written by Scott Haner ’76
One Year Led to One Great Story With 153 years of rich history at St. X and more than 26,000 graduates, one does not need to look far to find affection for this institution. In my interactions over the years with enthusiastic graduates, they all echo similar sentiments when they reflect on their high school years. Opportunity is often the common theme. When I visited St. X’s oldest living black alumnus this past fall, he was very certain that having his St. X diploma opened doors and created opportunity for him.
Charles Holt, Jr., entered St. X in the fall of 1958 in an unusual fashion, transferring in as a senior from Catholic Colored High School. Its doors were closed in 1958 after schools were integrated. Charlie recalled that both education and the Catholic faith were extremely important to his parents, so they chose St. X as his destination for his senior year. He was joined by his classmate, John Ellery, who also attended St. Peter Claver elementary school with him. While Charlie and John were not the first young black men to begin their St. X journeys at the Broadway campus, they were the first to graduate. Charlie did not recall a difficult transition with his classmates or teachers, but instead was proud to hold the title of Senior Class Vice President. That’s not to say everything was rosy. When his grades started to slip, Brother Bosco arranged for a meeting with Charlie’s father. Brother Bosco knew Charlie was capable of a better academic performance after reviewing his entrance exam score. Needless to say, Charlie was more focused after that, particularly since he had two pairs of watchful eyes on him. He did end up serving JUG one time and remembered the punishment was to write 200 words on the origin of the apple! After high school graduation in 1959, Charlie joined the Air Force. Following that eight-year commitment, he worked for Norfolk Southern Railway as a clerk. In 1984, Charlie secured a position with Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD). He believes that having St. X on his resume made all the difference when it came to finding work and figured out that St. X graduates take care of their own. He told the story of looking for a short-term position in between stints with the railroad and MSD. He inquired about a security officer position and was quickly informed there were no openings at that time. Charlie left his resume and had not even made it back to his car before the man flagged him down in the parking lot. It appeared the owner was a St. X graduate, too. Not only was he offered a job, but he was also given first-shift security detail. Charlie’s 22 years at MSD began with a role as senior clerk. He worked his way up to Inventory Control Supervisor and retired in 2006. He was asked to consider some consulting work after his retirement, but Charlie is, instead, enjoying his “piece of the pie.” He is proud of the Black Achievers distinction he earned in 2000. He travels with his longtime partner, Cheryl, and enjoys his family’s companionship. He has three daughters, and Cheryl has two daughters. Combined, there are 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He shared the story of a neighborhood bully who called him “sissy” as he walked home each day from St. X with an armload of school books. Charlie was quick to reference karma decades later as he would slip some spare change to that same man. Written by Kelly Purcell Stratman
Alumni board members Joe Jackson ’98 (left) and David Johnson ’93 (right) with Charlie Holt ’59.
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campus news volume 50, no. 2, winter 2018 saintx.com
Willenbrink and Noe Receive Ryken Awards At an all-school Mass on December 1 celebrating the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Chuck Willenbrink ’77 and Eddie Noe ’00 were each presented with the Theodore James Ryken Award. Named after the founder of the Xaverian Brothers, this award is presented annually to a St. X faculty or staff member dedicated to furthering the mission of a Xaverian education. Chuck is Director of Advancement, and Eddie teaches mathematics. Faculty and staff nominate colleagues for their commitment to proclaim the Gospel, for participation in the school’s community of faith, and for nurturing members of the community. Nominees also demonstrate commitment to academic excellence and model ways of recognizing the talents of individuals. They must be committed to educating the whole person and to leading others to fulfill the Gospel call to peace and justice.
“I am excited to become part of the St. X family,” the Warren County native said. “Very few schools have reached the standard of excellence that St. X produces on a yearly basis. To be entrusted to lead the St. X Football program is a great responsibility. I look forward to earning the respect of our players, coaches, teachers, administrators, and supporters as I become a part of the best academic and athletic tradition in Kentucky.” Athletic Director Alan Donhoff ’72 shared this about the St. X’s 19th head football coach. “We are excited to have Kevin Wallace join our St. X community as the new head coach of the Tiger Football program. Kevin has a great track record as one of Kentucky’s premier high school football coaches. More important, he is a proven leader of the young men he has coached. We look forward to his continued success in both of these areas in our school.” Prior to coaching at Bowling Green, Wallace directed Warren East, his alma mater, to a 45-61 record in 10 seasons. He will begin the 2018 season with the 11th-most career KHSAA coaching wins – 299. The Tiger Football team will play Bowling Green in its home opener on Friday, August 31, and this is scheduled to be the Alumni Association’s tailgate party. Mark your calendar and plan to attend.
Principal Frank Espinosa, Chuck Willenbrink, Eddie Noe, and President Perry Sangalli at the Feast of Saint Francis Xavier Mass.
Tiger Football’s New Leader On February 6, at a press conference in the Brother John Wills, C.F.X. Sports Activities Center, St. X introduced Kevin Wallace as the new head coach of the Tiger Football program. Coach Wallace held the same role at Bowling Green High School for 22 seasons. During his time with the Purples, they tallied an impressive 254-41 record. Wallace coached his teams to Class 5A state titles in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016, and they appeared in eight state championship games. From 2011 to 2014, his teams owned a 48-game winning streak – Kentucky’s second-longest. The 57-year-old Wallace replaces Coach Will Wolford ’82 who resigned in December. While at the helm, Wolford led the Tigers to a 44-22 record in his five seasons and finished runner-up in the 2017 Class 6A state championship game. 4
campus news volume 50, no. 2, winter 2018 saintx.com
Alumni Are Called to Serve With Students The mission of the Xaverian Brothers is to live a life of compassion and service to the poor and the marginalized in our world. The Brothers have built many paths to areas of our city and beyond that lead to the places where Jesus calls us to minister his healing touch to those in need. Through the years the service program at St. X has expanded its outreach to the poor and the marginalized in response to hearing the message of The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers which states, “As a disciple of Jesus Christ, you are called to follow in His footsteps and minister God’s healing touch of love, through word and deed, to all whom you meet in your journey of life.” The St. X students and faculty have followed in Christ’s footsteps in many places of service, and we are inviting St. X alumni to join us on this journey. There are several projects we offer to our students. Students need adults to transport them and work alongside them. Several times a month on Thursdays, we are called upon to act as pallbearers and to conduct prayer services for the indigent at Meadowview Cemetery for the Saint Joseph of Arimathea Society. Our students volunteer at Dare to Care, processing and sorting food. We volunteer for the Project Warm Blitz every November and have a follow-up work date on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Abbey of Gethsemani has invited our students to help with the upkeep of their grounds once a month. Many times throughout the year, we are involved in various environmental projects, planting trees in the city of Louisville and removing invasive species of plants. These and many more projects require help, and we hope alumni will accept our invitation. For details or to sign up as a volunteer, go to saintx.com/alumniservice. In addition, the Campus Ministry department is interested in helping St. X alumni with service projects in need of student volunteers. If you have a special project requiring a group of hardworking young men, please feel free to contact Campus Ministry to coordinate. We would need at least two weeks advance notice to prepare and post to our students. Written by Ben Kresse
Students with the Saint Joseph of Arimathea Society assist Deacon Pat Wright ’64 with a prayer service for cremains of the indigent.
Freshman Xavier Scholars – For scoring in the 95th percentile or above on the High School Placement Test last December, 42 were named Xavier Scholars. Front row: Henry Beck, Noah Berger, Gabe Biagi, Jacob Blincoe, Charlie Brashear, Justin Burch, Hillis Burns, Norbert Burzynski, Carson Ching, Christian Cullen, Mason Deeley, Sam Downs, Jack Dwyer, Joe Farber. Middle row: Andrew Frey, Boland Grayson, Alec Groves, Nic Guizio, Ben Hall, Hayden Hall, Ethan Harned, Christopher Hart, Quinn Hornback, Luke Jemley, Clayton Jones, Daniel Kirwan, Noah Klimek, Jack Lucas, Alex Markert. Back row: Ian Mayer, Evan Mueller, Charlie Murr, Miles Parker, Jet Sendaydiego, Benjamin Sheehan, Sam Shircliff, Cam Smith, Harrison Stropkay, Jon Sympson, Zach Teal, John Winbigler, Greyson Wintergerst.
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Athletics volume 50, no. 2, winter 2018 saintx.com
2017 Fall Season
Sophomore Drew Doyle earned 2017 Kentucky Mr. Golf honors.* Senior Patrick Schaefer runs to a second-place finish in the 2017 KHSAA State Meet.**
The Tiger Cross Country team celebrates the program’s third consecutive KHSAA State Championship and 23rd overall.** 6
Senior Jay Kirchdorfer, a University of Kentucky signee, lines up a putt at the Vince Hamilton Invitational.*
Athletics volume 50, no. 2, winter 2018 saintx.com
Senior Michael Hagerty was named Defensive Player of the Year by the Kentucky High School Soccer Coaches Association.*
The Tiger Soccer team celebrates with the trophy after capturing the 2017 KHSAA State Soccer Championship.**
Senior offensive lineman Wyatt Smock, a Vanderbilt signee, celebrates after a play against Male.*
Junior running back Anthony Moretti looks for running room in a game vs Fairdale. Moretti was the Tigers’ leading rusher for the 2017 season.*
Senior quarterback Jack Albers celebrates a touchdown with his teammates in a State Semifinal playoff game against Scott County.**
Seniors Nolan Bruner (90), Connor Schaefer (99), and Andrew Uhls (96) fire off the ball in the 2017 KHSAA State Championship game vs Trinity.** *Sports photography by Tim Porco ’85
**Sports photography by Megan Stearman
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cover story article volume 50, no. 2, winter 2018 saintx.com
His Business is Bourbon There has been a stunning rebirth of the bourbon industry in Kentucky – especially in the Louisville area – and a St. X alumnus is responsible for many developments in that trade. Master Distiller at Brown-Forman Corporation and first head of bourbon’s secret Order of the Writ Society Chris Morris ’76 was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2017. As a student who loved history and research, Chris was part of some close-knit crosscountry and track teams. “The work ethic, both in academics and athletics, which St. X instilled in me, is part of my professional makeup to this day,” said Chris, who originally thought his career would be in teaching. He was motivated by interesting teachers and coaches in high school. “Joe Heitzman, both as a coach and AP instructor, inspired a hard-driving work ethic and moral code I still value today,” Chris recalled. “Brother Damian was just such a character that you wanted to please him by doing your best. These two and many others made learning fun.” He continued, “One memory that stands out is the visit of 1936 Olympic track star Jesse Owens – I was selected to be one of his hosts.” His senior quote – “Sweat is sweet” – briefly got him in hot water. He said, “I was called to the office to explain to the disciplinarian what it meant. The concern was that it had some hidden meaning. It simply means that hard work is its own reward. It still applies today.”
After an internship at Brown-Forman, where his father’s career spanned over four decades, Chris switched his major at Bellarmine from Education to Business Administration. “He was devoted to Brown-Forman,” said Chris, “and that dedication certainly rubbed off on me.” Chris’s career appeared to have a setback in 1989 when Brown-Forman underwent a reduction in force due to the downturn in bourbon sales, and he was one of 10 junior supervisors released. He turned this temporary disappointment into a learning opportunity as he quickly joined the bourbon team at Glenmore Distilleries. “Within three years, I was reporting directly to the Chairman of the Board and having a ball creating new bourbon brands,” he remarked. When United Distillers, the largest spirits company in the world, acquired Glenmore in 1991, Chris stated, “I traveled the world promoting UD’s bourbons and learning about the international whiskey trade.” He worked hard in the 1990s to raise bourbon’s quality perception to that enjoyed by cognac and scotch. Returning to Brown-Forman in 1997, Chris began training to become Master Distiller, which he eventually achieved in 2003. Realizing that his daily mentor had retired, Chris recalled his “Aha!” moment: “It struck me that I could no longer rely on his expertise for guidance. I alone was responsible for the taste of Woodford Reserve. I briefly panicked, but then I realized that I had trained years for this moment, that I was a professional and was up to the task. I settled down, and the rest, as they say, is history.” “Chris is a wonderful human being – he has a lot of St. X in him,” said Paul Varga ’81, President and CEO of Brown-Forman, who described himself as “a founding member of the Chris Morris Fan Club.” Varga continued, “His competitiveness, creative writing and knack for history come through vividly when he writes a comparison of one of B-F’s brands to its competition – always quite funny and enormously useful for our sales and marketing teams.” Although proud of his major accomplishment in developing and publishing the Bourbon Flavor Wheel in 2004, Chris added, “The Woodford Reserve Masters Collection is our most significant success to date. This annual release of unique,
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alumni news & events volume 50, no. 2, winter 2018 saintx.com
innovative whiskeys has become one of the most copied programs in the industry.” In 2015, he was given the additional responsibility of Vice President of Whiskey Innovation for Brown-Forman. CEO Varga complimented Chris and his team, saying, “Beyond being a world-renowned Master Distiller, he is such a patient, thoughtful, articulate partner to me and others in both making whiskey and describing how it tastes. Spending time with him is just plain easy-going because that is who he is.”
Alumni Hall of Honors The newest group of graduates was inducted into the Saint Xavier Alumni Hall of Honors on Thursday, October 19. This recognition program honors alumni who have distinguished themselves with personal, professional, or athletic accomplishments. Congratulations to Victor Anderson ’07, Al Burke ’68, Chase Carraro ’09, Clinton Glasscock ’89, Rev. Jack Jones ’46†, Pat Lampton ’83, John Lechleiter, Ph.D. ’71, and Peter Lengyel ’80. To view individual induction videos, go to saintx.com/hall.
Chris is also quite proud that his son, Neal Morris, is an X-Man, Class of 2011. His advice to students considering a similar career is simple. “I tell young job seekers that the key to success is being passionate about what they do,” Chris explained. “If you don’t have passion, then you are just going through the motions.” About the Author: Harry Rothgerber ’65 is a retired prosecutor who currently works as a professional writer.
Upcoming Events February 26– Alumni Phonathon March 27 March 6 XBPA Featuring Louisville City FC March 16–18, Spring Musical – Pippin 22–24 March 28 All-Lacrosse Alumni Reunion March 30 Class Notes Deadline (Spring issue) May 1 Alumni Day at Churchill Downs May 11 Volunteer Appreciation Reception May 24 Baccalaureate Mass May 25 Graduation June 7 50-Year Club Lunch June 30 Class Notes Deadline (Summer issue) July 30 Alumni Golf Outing August 11 Alumni Cross Country Run
Seated: Al Burke, Chase Carraro, Pat Lampton, Peter Lengyel. Standing: Dan Green ’81 (representing his uncle Fr. Jack Jones†), John Lechleiter, Clinton Glasscock, and Victor Anderson. Photo by Tim Porco ’85
50-Year Club Lunch Set for June 7 Save the date for the annual 50-Year Club gathering on Thursday, June 7. This annual stag gathering is for ALL graduates who have already celebrated their 50th reunions (Classes of 1967 and older). Alumni are invited to a social and lunch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, located at 830 Phillips Lane, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Invitations will be mailed in April.
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Event information available at saintx.com or by calling (502) 637-8485. 9
class notes volume 50, no. 2, winter 2018 saintx.com
Class of 1945
Class Agent: John Fritsch (502) 460-1098 We meet for lunch at the Knights of Columbus on River Road the third Wednesday of each month at noon. Contact John Fritsch at (502) 460-1098 for details.
Class of 1948
Class Agent: Bud Bouchard (502) 634-8679 Join the class for lunch on the second Wednesday of each month at the Knights of Columbus on River Road at 11 a.m. Call Emil Graeser at (502) 894-0540 for details.
Class of 1955
Class Agents: Howard Meyer (502) 451-8800 and Bob Weihe (502) 459-6397 Send your news to Howard at [email protected].
Class of 1956
Class Agent: Pat Sheridan (502) 459-9899 Pat Sheridan received the William A. Gates, Jr. ’38 Outstanding Class Agent Award for his exemplary service and commitment as Class Agent. The honor was announced at the fall meeting held on September 12. Currently 112 classmates have passed away and gone to their heavenly reward. In addition, there are 10 with lost addresses. If you would like a class roster, contact Pat at [email protected]. The class recently celebrated its six-year anniversary of meeting for lunch. Originally, we met at 11:30 a.m., but since then, we have started gathering as early as 10 a.m. Some have even accused us of meeting for breakfast instead of lunch. With that in mind, the management of Molly Malone’s agreed to provide us with a breakfast/brunch menu. In November, Marty Donlon was inducted into the Louisville Catholic Sports Hall of Fame. Marty coached the St. X Golf team for 45 years. In that time, the program earned 12 team championships, nine runner-up finishes and 24 regional titles and produced six individual state champions. Marty was named national coach of the year three times.
Class of 1959
Class Agent: Doug Ganote (502) 244-2884 Who is the only member of our class to fight Muhammad Ali? Jerry Cahill† boxed against him in Golden Gloves held in Louisville. Research shows that Ed Berger has the most grandkids (24). At a recent monthly gathering, Bill Nold told Frank DeSensi that his family once lived in what is now the clubhouse at
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the Glenmary golf course. Frank then began sharing stories that Billy had not heard before. It turns out that Frank, a former history professor at Brescia College, taught at Fern Creek High School and knows the history of Fern Creek. Dr. Gerry Smith and high school All-American Bobby Reeves† were co-captains for the Tiger Football team. The pair attended Blessed Sacrament and won two Toy Bowls. Gerry earned his doctorate in chemistry and a law degree. His name is on many patents from his time at Eli Lilly & Co. In 1963, Jack James and Phil Zoeller were the top graduates of the University of Louisville Speed Scientific School. Jim Finney says hello from Charleston, S.C., and wants to hear from Dave De Spain. Could you tell the difference between the twins, Don and Ron Bowling? Buddy Crask was a regular at St. X Football games. John Gatton and his wife moved to Florida and then decided to return to Louisville. They are glad they did, and so are their grandchildren. Andre Dujardin was our French exchange student. Does anyone have any information on him? Join us for lunch on the second Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. Contact Doug at [email protected].
Class of 1960
Class Agent: Bob Benson (502) 314-6765 Join the class for lunch on the second Tuesday of each month at Check’s Café at 11:30 a.m. Contact Bob Benson at [email protected] if you’re not on the email invitation list and would like to be added.
Class of 1961
Class Agent: Ed Weis (502) 267-8120 Come join your fellow classmates for lunch at 11:30 a.m. on the second Friday of each month at DiOrio’s Pizza, 919 Baxter Avenue. Contact Ed Weis at [email protected] for information.
Class of 1963
Class Agents: Jerry Barnes (502) 338-9710 and Bob Coomes (502) 550-2123 Planning is underway for our 55-year class reunion. Stay tuned for details or contact Bob Coomes at (502) 550-2123 or [email protected]. Dr. Rudy Rucker was a special guest presenter at the 2017 IdeaFestival held in Louisville this past September. Rudy is an award-winning author and a mathematician who worked for 20 years as a Silicon Valley computer science professor.
Class of 1964
Class Agent: Don Meyer (502) 491-2704 Eric Shrader was inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame. He served in the United States Marine Corps in the 1960s, and his personal decorations include the Bronze Star, the Navy Commendation for Valor and the Purple Heart. Eric and his wife, Jo Lynn, reside in Frankfort, Ky.
Class of 1965
Class Agent: Jack Will (502) 649-4540 Bill Roby is the proud grandparent of St. X freshman Jake Roby. Jake enjoyed playing on the freshman soccer team.
Class of 1966
Class Agent: Ed Mayer (502) 741-0213 Robert Englert retired from the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office on July 1, where he had been employed since 2003. Prior to that, Robert had his own law practice for 27 years. He and his wife, Paula (SHA ’66), just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. They have three sons, three daughters-in-law, and four grandsons. Two sons (Sean Eisert ’91 and Mike Englert ’98) and one grandson (Xander Eisert ’16) graduated from St. X, while Andrew Eisert (junior), Austin Eisert (freshman), and Anthony Eisert (7th grade) are soon to follow. Robert’s brothers (Mark ’68, Tony ’74, and Matt ’75) and dad (Earl ’40) are St. X grads. Paula’s family is part of the Tiger tradition. Her brother, Tim Queenan ’68; father, Bud Queenan ’35; and grandfather, Paul Ott (1909), are all graduates.
Class of 1967
Class Agents: Greg Pike (502) 386-9349, Tony Santamassino (502) 439-5039, and Mike Shea (502) 609-3212 Tony Santamassino, an assistant professor of Psychology at Sullivan University, has recently been elected to Sullivan’s Academic Council. He has been a member of the faculty since 2011, teaching on four of its campuses (Sullivan University Main Campus on Bardstown Road., Sullivan College of Technology and Design, Spencerian College, and Sullivan Online). A U.S. Navy veteran, Tony also serves as faculty sponsor for the Student Veterans Association. The current Chair of the Academic Council is St. X alumnus Nick Riggs ’72, who serves as Dean of Legal Studies at Sullivan.
Class of 1968
Class Agent: Mike Horlander (502) 592-4735 The class will celebrate a 50-year reunion June 8–9, 2018. Plans include a tour and stag at St. X on Friday and Churchill Downs on Saturday. Register online at saintx.com/1968reunion
In November, Paul Karem was inducted into the Louisville Catholic Sports Hall of Fame. Paul was a standout quarterback at St. X and UK. As a junior, he set the St. X record for most passing yards in a game (399 yards). He held the single-season passing record and record for most passing touchdowns in a season for more than 15 years. Both the Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader named him first-team All-State quarterback.
Class of 1969
Class Agents: Steve Lannert (502) 394-2508 and Steve Liebert (502) 905-3593 Mike Price retired from the University of Louisville several years ago. Contact Mike at (502) 777-1513. Mike Plamp recently retired and is living in Prospect, Ky. You may reach Mike at (502) 773-3709. Bob Peterworth retired from General Electric after 37 years of service. Bob’s number is (502) 239-6969. Larry Nalley continues to work at Ford Motor Company after 47 years of employment. Contact Larry at (502) 592-5632. John McIntee retired from Airtomic in Jeffersonville, Ind. You may call John in Louisville at (502) 896-6172. Gus Luckert is retired from Greater Clark County, Schools, Indiana, and lives in Jeffersonville, Ind.
Class of 1971
Class Agent: Bert Erny (502) 445-9987 Roy Potts joined Capital Link Consultants as a Consultant, bringing his corporate and community affairs expertise to the firm and his clients.
Class of 1973
Class Agent: Joe Spoelker (502) 876-7745 The Class will celebrate a 45-year reunion June 8–9, 2018. Plans include golf at Oxmoor Country Club and a stag gathering on Friday night. A Mass, tour, and dinner will be offered at St. X on Saturday. For questions, contact Joe at [email protected].
Class of 1974
Class Agent: Frank Hulsman (502) 298-5340 Steve Wiser, an architect and historian, presented Sacred Spaces: Louisville’s Inspiring Catholic Church Architecture at the Ursuline Motherhouse Chapel in September. The presentation featured the architecture of local Roman Catholic churches from the mid-1800s up to today’s modern sanctuaries. Steve holds an architectural degree from the University of Cincinnati. He is currently President of the Louisville Historical League. Michael McKay joined Martin LLP, bringing 35+ years of experience in banking and finance to its Corporate Practice Group. Michael holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a bachelor’s in English from Princeton University.
Steve Huber is the Louisville/Southern Indiana representative at General Steel Crane and Rigging. He would love to hear from any St. X alumni needing crane time, rigging, and equipment transport. Email Steve at [email protected].
Class of 1975
Class Agent: Alan Gates (502) 664-5576 Maysville Community and Technical College promoted J. Scott Miller to Associate Professor. He teaches physics, astronomy, and mathematics.
Class of 1976
Class Agent: Mike Sheehan (502) 991-2068
Don Boes teaches in the Humanities Department at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. His latest book of poetry, Good Luck With That, was published by FutureCycle Press. Greg Donaldson relocated to Dallas, Texas, to accept a position as national Senior Vice President of Corporate and Marketing Communications for the American Heart Association. AHA is the world’s leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease and stroke. Brett Garvey has been retired for more than a year and enjoys traveling, volunteering, and being a part-time Florida resident.
D. Hank Robinson has joined the St. X Board of Directors.
Class of 1977
Keith Cummins announces the birth of granddaughter Jane Evelyn. Matthew ’96 and Amanda Cummins are the proud parents, while Patrick Cummins ’98 is the proud uncle! Keith’s daughter, Marah, is in nursing school at Morehead State University. In 2017, Keith completed 82 marathons and two Ironman competitions. He looks forward to turning over the family business to his other two sons, Luke and John, so he can start his professional running career.
The class celebrated its 40-year reunion in July. More than 90 attended the Friday stag at St. X, and 20 classmates plus their guests were in attendance for Saturday’s dinner at Ramsi’s Cafe.
In August, after 30+ years in the packaging business, Mark Crush celebrated his first year in business with MacPac LLC Film & Packaging Solutions. Contact him at (502) 240-9707 if you are in need of any packagingrelated projects or cost reductions on current items.
Class of 1982
Michael Pfeiffer turned 60 in November. He became a grandfather in December when Lucy Kay was born. Mike loves St. X and considers it a wonderful gift to have spent four years here. Marty Johnson and his wife, Catherine Spalding, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in November. Their son, Hugh Johnson-Spalding, joined the Tiger family as a freshman this year.
Class Agent: John Raque (502) 296-5831
Class of 1978
Class Agents: Barry Holland (502) 263-9885 and Paul Shaughnessy (502) 458-3676 The class will celebrate a 40-year reunion June 8–10, 2018. Joe Motley is chair of the reunion committee. If you’re interested in joining the planning committee, contact Paul Shaughnessy at [email protected] or Barry Holland at [email protected].
Class Agent:
Earl Winebrenner has opened a branch of his commercial real estate and investment firm in Sarasota, Fla. As a result, he has resigned as Class Agent after 10 years of service. If anyone is interested in the opportunity to serve as Class Agent, please contact St. X at (502) 637-8485. This group met 39 years ago at a lunch table in the St. X cafeteria. In August, they met up at Nolin Lake for the weekend. Pictured left to right are: John Carney, Paul Conway, Tony Marshall, Mike Patton, and Steve Meyer.
Tony Simpson is married to the former Cindy Wimsatt (Angela Merici ’76) and looks forward to retirement and grandchildren in the near future. He plays guitar for The Remedy, a fundraising band. If you have a great cause that needs a dance band to help you raise money, look him up. Deacon Scott Haner traveled to Kenya to visit the Xaverian Brothers working there. He has recently joined the Theodore James Ryken Mission Society supporting the ongoing mission work of the Xaverian Brothers. As part of the trip, they visited the new Ryken House for Homeless Children in Bungoma, Kenya. The African Brothers are continuing the long tradition of Xaverians reaching out to those most in need. Amen!
Tom Rutledge co-authored An Amendment Too Far?: Limits on the Ability of Less than All Members to Amend the Operating Agreement, which has been published in the Florida State University Business Review.
Mike Casper is a writer-editor for research at Penn State and his wife, Ann, is a dancer-choreographer. They have an 11-year-old son, Evan. Mike also directs the Tussey Mountainback, a 50-mile relay/ultramarathon race which recently hosted the American 50-mile championships. He runs daily to stay fit and keep up with Evan, who’s into soccer, tennis, running, swimming, saxophone, and Boy Scouts.
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Class of 1985
Class of 1993
Class of 1999
Mark Raque has joined the St. X Board of Directors.
The Class will celebrate a 25-year reunion August 17–18. Stay tuned for details or contact David Cornett at [email protected].
Business First named Matthew Willinger one of its Forty Under 40.
Class Agent: Shawn Keller (502) 741-0443
Bill Young was appointed Councilman for the city of Jeffersontown. His term ends in November 2018, and at that time he will run for re-election. Bill has been married 17 years to the former Tina Fussenegger (AHS ’85). Their daughter, Sydney, attends Assumption High School, and their sons, Vincent and Nicholas, attend St. Edward.
Class Agent: David Cornett (502) 417-9022
Class of 1994
Class Agent: Glenn Davis (502) 296-3950 Sarah and Adam Steven Jenkins welcomed the birth of their son, Anderson Steven, on September 22.
Class of 1988
Class Agent: Dan DeGrella (502) 417-3410
Class of 1995
Business First named Logan Baker one of its Forty Under 40.
Jason S. Harris has been named Medical Director and Owner of Lexington Diagnostic Center & Open MRI. Dr. Harris is a board-certified musculoskeletal fellowship-trained radiologist and has been with Lexington Diagnostic Center since 2012.
Tate Meagher opened Meagher Law Office, PLLC, in downtown Louisville. Tate has experience as a civil litigator, as both plaintiff and defense counsel. His practice focuses on individuals injured at work or injured due to the carelessness of others. The Meagher Law Office (www.MeagherLawOffice.com) is dedicated to the loving memory of his older brother, Thad ’99. Contact Tate at (502) 309-9213 or [email protected].
Class Agent:
Class of 1989
Class Agent: Tony Wilcox (502) 262-4559 Paul Robinson hosted former classmates at the Rotary Club of Louisville on August 3 to hear Kent Taylor speak about the fall sports season. Pictured left to right: Kent Taylor, Tom Mueller, Rick Tobe, Garry Cronin, Todd Moorman, Davis Boland, Jason Roberts, Paul Robinson, and Rob Walsh.
Joe Berlejung was selected by the Secretary of the Army to serve as Inspector General of the 63rd Regional Support Command in Mountain View, Calif. He will assume his duties in January 2018 and will coordinate investigations and intelligence oversight operations across a seven-state region. Joe most recently served with the 353rd Civil Affairs Command located in New York City.
Class of 1992
Class Agent: Greg Boehnlein (502) 741-5877 Tony Pottinger and his wife, Joan Pannuti, welcomed their second daughter, Mary, last February. She joins big sister Greta. They live in Arlington, Va., where Tony is a trial attorney with the Department of Justice. Additionally, Tony is a major in the Army Reserves and graduated from the Army’s Command and General Staff College.
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Sarah (Mauney) and Major Craig T. Mohr, USAF, welcomed the birth of their daughter, Cora Tygrett, on April 25. She joins big sister Claire (5). Major Mohr serves as Chief of the Repair Network Integration Implementation Branch at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, WrightPatterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Class of 2001
Class Agent: Brian Doheny (502) 938-0199 During his seventh season as the head volleyball coach for Auburn University, Rick Nold reached 100 career wins on September 9. Prior to coaching the Auburn Tigers, he was head coach at Jacksonville State University for nine seasons.
Class Agent: Charlie Dicken (502) 693-7583
Class of 1996 Class Agent:
In April, Norka and Brock Ramser welcomed the birth of their third child, Lucas. He joins sister Camila (5) and brother Blaise (3).
Class of 2002
Amanda and Matthew Cummins celebrated the birth of their daughter, Jane Evelyn, on September 4.
Class Agents: Zach Cooke (859) 414-1832, David Phillips (502) 417-3662, Rob Schenkenfelder (859) 608-7416, and Dan Heverin (502) 905-3225
Class Agent: Paul Schardein (502) 548-1924 Carrie and G.J. Abell are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Delaney Elizabeth. She joined big brother Cooper and big sister Addi on October 2.
Class of 2003
Plans are being finalized for the 15-year reunion. Stay tuned for details.
Class of 2004
Class Agent: Patrick McMahon (502) 558-1526
Class of 1997
Class Agent: Marty Schnurr (859) 333-9004 ResCare, Inc., a diversified provider of health and human services, has named Jim Mattingly executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Kevin Hulsman joined the University of Louisville Athletic Department as a producer and director for the ACC Network. Jared Woods graduated from the University of Connecticut with his M.D. and Ph.D. He will begin his residency in pathology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital located in Boston. Marissa and Christian Recchiuti are proud to announce the birth of their son, Luca Sal. Jenny and Ryan Mitchell are proud to announce their son, Jackson Elias, was born in September.
Class of 2005
Class Agent: Joe Tronzo (502) 291-4330 John Daly was recognized by Forbes as a 2017 “America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisor.” He is an advisor with the Sheryak & Daly Wealth Management Group in Louisville.
Class of 2006
Class Agent: Matt Raque (502) 296-5891 Emily and David Stewart announce the birth of their first child, Henderson David, on September 24. All are happy, healthy, and adjusting well. Andrew Campbell was married July 29, 2017. Pictured left to right are: Chris Tinsley, Andrew Hovekamp ’08, Andrew Campbell, Kevin Reynolds, Joe Della Bella, and Chris Wallace (attended St. X in 2006).
Evan Barrett Marker joined Deloitte Consulting as a Project Delivery Analyst. This past May, he completed his MBA at the University of Kentucky. Jacob Priddy served as Associate Music Director of the holiday tour of “A Christmas Story, The Musical.” The tour began in November and visited 12 cities. This past summer, he was Musical Theatre Faculty at The Kentucky Center Governor’s School for the Arts. Jacob graduated cum laude from Northern Kentucky University with degrees in both music and theatre. He has been a teaching assistant/pianist at Villa Madonna Academy in northern Kentucky and previously served as music director at both the Warsaw Federal Incline Theatre in Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Children’s Theatre.
Class of 2011
Class Agent: Will Ford (502) 619-8907 Geoffrey Banta has been accepted into the one-year language program at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China. Last June, Tommy Bardenwerper, Adam Roth, and William Thompson traveled to Cuba for a week-long mission trip. They spent time in Havana, Pinar del Rio, and Matanzas supporting local churches and youth ministries. Tommy is an investment banking analyst in San Francisco. Adam is an XR & AI software engineer in Miami. William is pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Kentucky.
Byron Lilly was promoted to Area Sales Manager for GE Appliances in Houston, Texas.
Class of 2008
Class Agents: Peter Urda (502) 718-6994 and Hank Wall (502) 299-0269 Tom Cecil married Allie Fulcher on June 24 in Greenville, S.C. They live in Lexington Ky., where Tom is a sales manager at Glenn Freedom Chrysler/ Dodge/Jeep/Ram. Tony Distler graduated from UofL’s School of Dentistry in May 2016 and completed his residency at University of Louisville Hospital. In July, Tony started practicing at Distler Family Dentistry in Louisville. Anyone interested in donating to the Steven Vanover† Memorial Fund can go to http://stevenvanover.org.
Class of 2009
Nathan Lilly is a Power System Electrical Engineer at Schneider Electric’s Lexington office.
Class of 2014
Class Agents: Devin Kelly (502) 572-0173 and Charles Walker (502) 415-0271 This past spring, Ben Metzger made the dean’s list at Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) for the sixth consecutive semester. He was recently selected to the Academic All-Mid-American Conference team for men’s cross country and track and received the Distinguished Scholar Athlete award. Ben is scheduled to graduate in May, earning degrees in finance and economics with a minor in actuarial science.
Class Agents: Zach Settembre (502) 387-6227, Will Spence (502) 216-0507, and Chris Yared (502) 271-7999
Class of 2017
Zach Settembre has been named the head basketball coach for the boys’ team at Collegiate after previously serving as an assistant coach.
Jake Zickel was accepted to the Properly Tied Ambassador Program this past fall. He helps organize events to promote Properly Tied products.
Class of 2010
Tyler Barnes is a member of the University of Alabama men’s basketball team.
Joe Cecil has been employed in the billing integrity department at LG&E since graduating from Centre College in 2014. He purchased his first home and lives near St. Martha.
Kevin Niehoff released a new single, Girl Waiting in Line, which had more than 500 plays on SoundCloud within 24 hours.
Class Agent: Barrett Metzger (502) 417-1126
Class Agent: Mason Elpers (502) 744-4014
In Memoriam Mr. Robert A. Shade ’36 Mr. Jack F. Gaither ’37 Mr. Walter P. Thomas ’41 Mr. John E. Plamp, Jr. ’43 Mr. Victor J. Sourdry ’43 Mr. James A. Watts ’43 Mr. Joseph M. Brand ’44 Mr. John L. McAdam ’44 Rev. Kenneth L. Gering, O.F.M., CONV. ’45 Mr. William K. Nagel ’45 Dr. G. Randolph Schrodt, Sr. ’45 Mr. William T. Elliott ’47 Col. Charles L. Higgins ’48 Mr. C. J. Kissel ’48 Mr. Stewart Lochner ’48 Mr. James J. Norris, Jr. ’48 Mr. Joseph Fitzmayer ’49 Mr. Donald C. Bobzien ’50 Mr. Theodore A. Henle ’50 Mr. Charles D. Jones ’51 Mr. Vincent H. Benningfield ’52 Mr. Richard J. Holtman ’53 Mr. Gerald J. Korfhage ’53 Mr. Charles A. Thomas ’53 Mr. Paul K. Alford ’54 Mr. William A. Brand ’54 Mr. Richard W. Morgen ’54 Mr. Thomas Bloemer ’55 Mr. David J. Thompson, Jr. ’55 Dr. Kenneth A. Hafendorfer ’56 Mr. Paul A. Heinig ’57 Mr. Herman W. Graf ’58 Mr. Henry A. Miller ’59 Mr. Eugene J. Shanks ’60 Captain Robert E. French ’61 Mr. Thomas R. Graviss ’61 Mr. H. Randolph French ’62 Mr. Victor L. Mohr ’63 Mr. Thomas E. Murphy ’63 Mr. Phillip C. Gorgas ’64 Lt. Col. Gregory E. Hammond ’64 Mr. William P. Bishop ’65 Mr. Kenneth H. Dant ’65 Mr. Bernard J. Finneran, Jr. ’65 Mr. William G. Bisig, Sr. ’71 Mr. Raymond A. Blessinger ’73 Mr. Stephen P. Miller ’73 Mr. Michael T. Waskevich ’73 Mr. Stephen M. Klein ’77 Mr. Jeffrey S. Hock ’81 Mr. Kenneth M. Recktenwald ’81 Mr. Norman D. Briones ’90 Mr. Kevin P. Metzger ’90 Mr. Jason L. Buntain ’92 Mr. Jonathan R. Pegler ’94 Mr. John R. Roth, Jr. ’98 Mr. Stewart R. Spalding ’98 13
Show Us Your X Chad Lavelle ’09, Michael Edelen ’09, William Walker ’09, Eric Bivins ’09, groom Joseph Mulloy ’09, William Mulloy ’15, and Luke Lancaster ’09 make their X’s outside The Henry Clay. The wedding party was headed to the reception for Joseph Mulloy and Claire Julian (SHA ’09). Vince Vetter ’77 shows his X with his sons, Matthew Vetter ’15 and Evan Vetter (St. X senior), at the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. Three generations of Kosse X-men show their Tiger pride at the Top of the World along the Beartooth Highway in Wyoming. Pictured (left to right): Louis G. Kosse ’81, Louis J. Kosse ’12, Daniel Kosse ’15, Connor Helgeson ’19, Louis A. Kosse ’49, and Glenn Kosse ’83. Nick Waldeck ’15 makes his X at the Great Wall while spending four weeks abroad on a UK faculty-led Chinese language education trip. Deacon Scott Haner ’76 traveled to Kenya, Africa, in October to visit the Xaverian Brothers working there. He and Xaverian Formators and Postulants from Bungoma make X’s following dinner. Cory Lentz ’13, Geoffrey Bohn ’13, Aaron Lloyd ’91, Bruce Bohn ’77, and Jerry Lentz ’71 make their X’s at the 1992 Olympic Village overlooking the city of Barcelona, Spain. These X-men traveled across the Mediterranean from Athens, Greece, and ended their 12-day trip in Barcelona. While on a family vacation, Brett Garvey ’76, Matthew Garvey ’14, and Andrew Garvey ’15 show their X’s in front of the Buddhist Temple Todai-ji in Nara, Japan. Ron Schneider ’58, Jim Strothman ’59, Ray Strothman ’63, Tom Gatz ’67, and Chris Gatz ’77 make their X’s near Rudesheim, Germany, in a vineyard overlooking the Rhine River.
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Getting in touch with his Irish roots, Patrick John Hughes ’79 makes his X at the Cliffs of Moher on the Emerald Isle. Tom Becherer ’85, Ron Bisig ’63, Patrick Pfister ’71, Fr. Fred Klotter ’79, Paul Jones ’70, and Ron Ray ’55 show their X’s at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lourdes, France. Fr. Fred organized this Marian pilgrimage to the place where Our Blessed Mary appeared to 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous in the first of 18 visions at a nearby grotto. Hank Zimmerman ’94 and his dad, Charlie Zimmerman ’64, show their X’s on one of the Galapagos Islands. Three generations of the Zimmerman family accompanied them to Ecuador, the equator, the Andes, the Amazonian rain forest, and the Galapagos. Don Venhoff ’65 and Tom Hemmer ’65 make X’s at a fountain in Nice, France. They traveled the western Mediterranean with their wives in early fall 2017. Tucker Donlon ’16 and Logan Butler ’16 demonstrate their St. X pride after the University of Kentucky won the Southeastern Conference Rugby Championship. Steve Smith ’71, Justin Thomas ’11, Jonathan Smith ’10, and Larry “Bud” Hurst ’62 demonstrate their X’s in Dublin, Ohio. Steve traveled with his son and brother-in-law to the Memorial Golf Tournament in May and caught up with Justin during a practice round. Kevin Raque ’82 shows his X in Jamaica. He and Carla celebrated their 30-year wedding anniversary on this trip with their daughters. Andrew Sexton ’17 makes his X at the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall during a trip to visit his cousin who was interning at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.
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Marlo and Mark ’86 Leaman show their Tiger pride. They are the proud new owners of Rancho Pacifico, a luxury eco-resort for adults only in Costa Rica. They welcome Tiger visitors.